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Updated: Apr 5, 2026

Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes
Published on: August 16, 2018
Novel Ultrathin Membranes Composed of Organic Ions
Vitaly V Chaban1, Bram Verspeek2, Himanshu Khandelia1
1†MEMPHYS - Center for Biomembrane Physics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M. 5230, Denmark.
Abstract:
Until recently, construction of bilayers was an exclusive mission of nature. It requires careful choice of compounds, whose delicate interplay between head group attraction and chain repulsion engenders a truly unique balance over a narrow temperature range. We report the investigation of artificial bilayers composed of long-chained organic ions, such as dodecyltrimethylammonium (DMA(+)) and perfluorooctaonate (PFO(-)). Various ratios of DMA/PFO surfactants result in bilayers of different stability, thickness, area per molecule, and density profiles. In our quest for water filtration, we incorporated aquaporin protein into the DMA/PFO bilayer but did not observe sufficient stability of the system. We discuss further steps to utilize these surfactant bilayers as highly selective, salt-impermeable membranes.
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